Winter in Bilbao

The winter in Bilbao can be cosy, full of gleaming Christmas lights and hot chestnut stands. It can also be cold and rainy. It’s all a matter of luck.

I come from Sweden, so from my point of view Bilbao is very hospitable also at this time of the year. My favourite winter months are December and January. Yes, it can be cold here, but you can still be outdoors and enjoy the walk. Some days even the sun shines and the sky is blue.

From the first days of December Bilbao puts on its glowing Christmas gown. The Mayor of the City supervises the official ceremony. A light switch is turned on, and the narrow, stone laden streets of Casco Viejo (the old quarters) are illuminated. It is magic, just like stepping into a fairy tale!

The bars offer home made bullion to warm up. At evening the hot chest nut stands open up. For €1, 20 you get 10 steaming hot roasted chestnuts wrapped up in a piece of newspaper.
Up until the 6th of January Bilbao is a state of continuous festivity and then the SALES start!

Don’t miss out on the fun. Here is some fun stuff I did this year.

The market of Santo Tomás (21st of december)
Be ready for some good cheer and lots of elbowing. Normally more that 100.000 people attend this traditional Christmas market, in just one single day. However, I do not recommend you to come here with kids. They will surely get lost and trying to move forward with a stroller is a total no no, I know, I tried it.

Local farmers gather to offer vegetables, cheese, fruit, cider and pastry. Even live birds are sold.

The stands are mainly located in “Plaza Nueva” and “El Arenal”. Do not miss out on the culinary highlight, “Talo con chorizo” (corn bread with spicy sausage). It is usually washed down with “Txakoli” (the local white whine) or cider.


Olentzero (24th of December)
This pipe-smoking man is something like the Basque equivalent of Santa Claus. The local legends tell that he is a coal monger that lives in the nearby mountains.

On the 24th of December the town hall arranges a procession with Olentzero and his entourage. It starts at 10 o’clock in the morning at the Plaza Funicular. My kids love it (and so do I). Dancing elves and twirling giants plays a part of the procession. Don’t miss out on the fun if you are here!

The procession of the Three Wise Men (5th of January)
The 5th of January is the day when the Three Wise Men, Los Reyes Magos, come to visit. This is an impressive procession with hundreds of participants.

It crosses the main street, Gran Vía, and arrives at the Town Hall as final stop. The streets are crowed. Young and old all gather to participate. This year 4 tons of candies were spread during the procession.